Denmark: Odense chosen for Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2014

The city was selected by Danish broadcaster DR, and it will be the first time the event has been held in the city for 21 years.

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2014 will be hosted by the city of Odense.

We know Odense can take on this challenge and produce a super great show and a party for all, said Rasmus Ladefoged, DR’s entertainment editor. The world’s eyes are focused on Denmark, he added. And because we’ll be hosting Eurovision, we want to make MGP special, too.

Odense’s mayor, Anker Boye, is looking forward to his city’s role as host. We like partying, he said of himself and his fellow Odense residents. We’re pleased to invite the whole of Denmark to our city.

The last time the competition was held in Odense it was won by Tommy Seebach, who went on to represent Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993 in Millstreet, Ireland, with the song Under stjernerne på himlen. He finished in 22nd place with nine points. It was the last time Tommy would appear on the Melodi Grand Prix stage, having entered seven times and won three.

Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2014 will be held next 8 March, with the children’s competition taking place a week later on 15 March. The broadcaster is currently accepting song submissions.

Journalists and fans are already raising their concerns about the broadcaster’s decision to hold Dansk Melodi Grand Prix while it is also running the seventh series of the X Factor. For the last few years, the X Factor has started in December and finishes at the end of March, with a week off to make space in the schedule for Melodi Grand Prix, and there are some fears the two competitions may not be distinct enough from each other.